adv., conj. Forms: see WHEN and SO. [ME. hwense, representing OE. *swá hwanne swá: see WHEN and SO adv. 17 d.]
† 1. = WHEN 4. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 85. In þe deie of liureisun hwense god almihtin wule windwin þet er wes iþorschen.
c. 1205. Lay., 15054. Weonne so ich beo uorð faren, Hengest eow wul makien kare.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 412. Ȝe ȝet moten chaungen ham hwonse ȝe euer willeð.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxviii. Quhen so my teris dropen on the ground,… the lytill birdis smale Styntith thaire song.
1567. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 522. Quhen swa this cruell murthour wes committit,… nevir ceissit he of his wickit … pretense.
2. = WHENEVER 1. arch.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1466. Whannse þu forrȝifesst tuss Þin wraþþe & ec þin wræche, Aȝȝ þanne lakesst tu þin Godd Gastlike i þine þæwess.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (verse), 861. When so we ȝern ony thing Þat may fall vnto flesch likyng, Thinke we god waites vs weterly!
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 2542, in Macro Plays, 153. It is good, whon-so þe wynde blowe, A man to haue sum-what of his owe.
1473. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 178. He sal haue the fredome of hoslary quhenswa at it be sufficiand.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 829. Whenso loue of letters did inspire Their gentle wits.
1866. Neale, Sequences & Hymns, 216. Whenso that battle seems going against us, remember the legend.
1879. Butcher & Lang, Odyssey, III. 40. Phrontis,… who excelled the tribes of men in piloting a ship, whenso the storm winds were hurrying by.
